A Day in a Speech Pathologist’s Life

On a typical day a speech pathologist will:

  • use written and oral tests, as well as special instruments, to diagnose the nature and extent of impairment and to record and analyze speech, language, and swallowing irregularities;
  • develop an individualized plan of care tailored to each patient’s needs;
  • select augmentative or alternative communication methods, including automated devices and sign language, and teach their use to individuals with little or no speech capability;
  • teach those with little or no speech capability how to make sounds, improve their voices, or increase their language skills to communicate more effectively;
  • help patients who have suffered loss of speech develop, or recover, reliable communication skills so patients can fulfill their educational, vocational, and social roles

 

We work with:

  • people who cannot make speech sounds, or cannot make them clearly;
  • those with speech rhythm and fluency problems, such as stuttering;
  • people with voice quality problems,such as inappropriate pitch or harsh voice;
  • people who have problems understanding and producing language;
  • those who wish to improve their communication skills by modifying an accent;
  • those with cognitive communication impairments, such as attention, memory, and problem solving disorders;
  • people who have oral motor problems causing eating and swallowing difficulties